NFL - American Football Conference (AFC) - Projections of 2007 Season Final Team Standings
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC
AFC Playoffs 2007-2008:
· Wild Card: Bengals beat Broncos; Chargers beat Ravens
· Division: Patriots beat Bengals; Chargers beat Colts
· AFC Championship: Patriots beat Chargers
Last Update: August 24, 2007
AFC East
Division Snapshot: The AFC East still belongs to the New England Patriots. From there, it's anyone's guess. On paper, the Jets have the best team from top to bottom. But Miami has spiced up the roster enough to make a surprise or too.
1. New England Patriots Bill Belichick (since 2000)
2007 projected record: 12-4
Record (2006): 12-4, lost to Indianapolis (38-34) in AFC Championship
Record (2005): 10-6, lost to Denver (27-13) in AFC Divisional Playoff
Record (2004): 14-2, won Super Bowl XXXIX 24-21
Keep in mind: The one area the Pats have unloaded a bit of responsibility is to 2nd-year RB Laurance Maroney. Fortunately, he has a veteran offense around him.
Recap: The Patriots may have their best team yet this season. The defense is ranked in the 5 and a maturing Tom Brady has Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth added to his mix of targets. But the Patriots won't sneak past anyone. Every team will be out to beat them.
2. Miami Dolphins Cam Cameron (2007)
2007 projected record: 8-8
Record (2006): 6-10
Record (2005): 9-7
Record (2004): 4-12
Keep in mind: The offense is changing-- and that's a good thing. No matter how Trent Green plays. The point is that the Dolphins had to do something. New head coach Cam Cameron is also placing unusual pressure on RB Ronnie Brown which is certain to inspire the offense to play better.
Recap: A lot of things need to go right for the Dolphins to finish with a winning record. But, they have made some necessary changes. And, add in Ted Ginn, Jr during the season, and the Dolphins could back into a not-so-bad final standing in the division. But expect flashes of brilliance by the team to be offset by some pretty disappointing games.
3. New York Jets Eric Mangini (2006)
2007 projected record: 8-8, lost to New England (37-16) in AFC Wild Card
Record (2006): 10-6
Record (2005): 4-12
Record (2004): 10-6, lost to Pittsburgh in AFC divisional playoff (20-17, OT)
Keep in mind: Will the Jets up-and-down roller coaster continue? Season win totals since 2002: 9, 6, 10, 4, 10, __. Can they break the pattern?
Recap: The defense was rock solid after the bye week last season. No one scored more than 14 points in 7 of the Jets final 8 games. Then they met the Patriots in the playoffs and lost 37-16. The Jets have a decent offense, with Coles, Jones, Washington, and Pennington. But it will be tested by one of the toughest schedules in the NFL (they start out week 1 with New England, and week 2 at Baltimore).
4. Buffalo Bills Dick Jauron (2006)
2007 projected record: 7-9
Record (2006): 7-9
Record (2005): 5-11
Record (2004): 9-7
Keep in mind: The Bills Defense is basically Top 10 quality. But the lack of a running game this season could keep them on the field too much.
Recap: Did the Bills give up on MaGahee too quickly? QB J.P. Losman seems on the verge of being a halfway decent QB, but will the uncertain running game raise the pressure on him and cost the Bills a winning season? We think Losman-to-Evans pass plays will keep things interesting but that the Bills will finish with a sub-par record.
AFC West
Division Snapshot: San Diego will have a slightly tougher road this year. And it should be the Broncos that will pick up some of the slack. The AFC West should have 2 teams in the playoffs again.
1. San Diego Chargers Norv Turner (2007)
2007 projected record: 10-6
Record (2006): 14-2, lost to New England (24-21) in AFC Divisional Playoff
Record (2005): 9-7
Record (2004): 12-4, lost to NY Jets (20-17, OT) in wild card.
Keep in mind: QB Philip Rivers was a runaway success in his first full season on the field.
Recap: The stars were aligned in San Diego last season. Rivers was phenomenal. Tomlinson had a record-breaking year. And the defense was one of the best in the league. It would be hard to expect a repeat, especially from Rivers. But winning the division should be achieved.
2. Denver Broncos Mike Shanahan (1995)
2007 projected record: 10-6
Record (2006): 9-7
Record (2005): 13-3, lost to Pittsburgh (34-17) in AFC championship
Record (2004): 10-6, got crushed by Indianapolis (again) in Wild Card game 49-24
Keep in mind: The Broncos QB Jay Cutler may be young and new, but he's got an easy act to follow (Plummer's 11 TD's and 13 INT's in 2006).
Recap: It ain't going to be as easy as it could be. The fact is, the Broncos have a solid team-- all around. Great defense. Good receiving crew-- headed by Javon Walker. Good running game with Mike Bell and Travis Henry. One of the NFL's best coaches. ... then they have Cutler... and his 5 games of NFL experience.
3. Kansas City Chiefs Herm Edwards (2006)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 9-7, lost to Indianapolis (23-8) in AFC Wild Card
Record (2005): 10-6
Record (2004): 7-9
Keep in mind: The Chiefs have limped into the start of the season, having overseen a lengthy holdout from their best player, and reluctantly naming the obvious choice, Duane Huard, as the starting QB just in time for the season.
Recap: The Chiefs haven't won a playoff game since 1993. And this year they may just miss out on a chance. Fortunately for Chiefs fans, at least KC snuck into the playoffs last year.
4. Oakland Raiders Lane Kiffin (2007)
2007 projected record: 5-11
Record (2006): 2-14
Record (2005): 4-12
Record (2004): 5-11
Keep in mind: The Raiders #1 draft pick, QB JaMarcus Russell has yet to sign a contract, placing his future in jeopardy-- having missed all of training camp.
Recap: But Oakland isn't losing any sleep over it. They signed QB Daunte Culpepper to go with QB Josh McGown. And Art Shell has given way to new head coach Lane Kiffin. Oakland is moving forward after their worst season since 1962. Expect a turn in the right direction this season and a couple more wins.
AFC North
Division Snapshot: The AFC North is loaded with potential. From the Bengals high-powered offense, to the Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, to the Ravens 13-3 season last year, to the Browns Brady Quinn. But it's also possible that these teams will beat each other up. That's our conclusion. No real standout here.
1. Cincinnati Bengals Marvin Lewis (2003)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 8-8
Record (2005): 11-5, lost to Pittsburgh (31-17) in AFC Wild Card
Record (2004): 8-8
Keep in mind: Head Coach Marv Lewis was known for his defense in Baltimore. But he didn't take it with him.
Recap: Take away 2005 and Lewis is a .500 coach in Cincinnati. This year, the pressure will be on-- especially to get the Bengals into the playoffs. They have all the pieces they need to score points, but somehow the offense sputters at times.
2. Baltimore Ravens Brian Billick (1999)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 13-3, lost to Indianapolis (15-6) in AFC Divisional Playoff
Record (2005): 6-10
Record (2004): 9-7
Keep in mind: The Ravens made a substantial change at RB... Lewis is gone to Cleveland and in comes RB Willis MaGahee, who struggled in Buffalo.
Recap: As well as the defense played last year (and does pretty much every year), the offense was a shocking success last year. QB Steve McNair turned out to be the perfect solution. But the Ravens are not a steady contender and a fall back in wins is likely.
3. Cleveland Browns Romeo Crennel (2005)
2007 projected record: 7-9
Record (2006): 4-12
Record (2005): 6-10
Record (2004): 4-12
Keep in mind: Since the Cleveland franchise was revived in 1999, the team has gone a combined 40-88.
Recap: In Ohio, they're already writing headlines like "Browns offense finding its stride?". It may be a bit early to be getting that excited, but we think the Browns have enough potential to, perhaps, get out of last in the division.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Tomlin (2007)
2007 projected record: 7-9
Record (2006): 8-8
Record (2005): 11-5, Won the Super Bowl (21-10) VS Seattle
Record (2004): 15-1, Lost to New England (41-27) in AFC Championship
Keep in mind: Roethlisberger will look to bounce back this year after last year was basically lost following his recovery from the motorcycle accident. So far so good, but the question lingers whether he will ever be the same.
Recap: It's hard to imagine the Steelers without Bill Cowher on the sidelines. And with a new coach could come a surprising transition to mediocrity.
AFC South
Division Snapshot: The x-factor in the division is Tennessee-- and, namely, Vince Young. A guy with that much talent can shake up the whole division by leading the Titans to double-digit wins. More likely, we see a repeat performance from the Colts and the usual battle royale below. 2nd in the division is up for grabs.
1. Indianapolis Colts Tony Dungy (2002)
2007 projected record: 12-4
Record (2006): 12-4, won Super Bowl XLI (29-17) over Chicago
Record (2005): 14-2, lost to Pittsburgh (21-18) in divisional playoff
Record (2004): 12-4, lost to New England in AFC divisional playoff (20-3)
Keep in mind: Indy has won more than 10 games in 7 of the last 8 seasons (and 12 or more, 4 seasons in a row)-- culminating in a Super Bowl win last year.
Recap: Looks like another year on auto-pilot. But what will be the motivation this season? Another Super Bowl?
2. Jacksonville Jaguars Jack Del Rio (2003)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 8-8
Record (2005): 12-4, lost to New England (28-3) in wild card
Record (2004): 9-7
Keep in mind: So many questions: Leftwich or Garrard? Jones-Drew or Taylor? Maybe head coach Jack del Rio can turn that into a good thing.
Recap: For the Jaguars to make the playoffs, it may be as simple as getting the offense and defense to click at the same times. But those kind of seasons (like the Bears in 2005-- winning 10-6, 20-17, 13-10, etc) require some sort of spark. Maybe Fred Taylor will have something to say about that.
3. Tennessee Titans Jeff Fisher (1994)
2007 projected record: 7-9
Record (2006): 8-8
Record (2005): 4-12
Record (2004): 5-11
Keep in mind: Head coach Jeff Fisher enters his 14th season leading an NFL team (3 of those seasons were in Houston, before the Oilers became the Titan in 1997).
Recap: Is it fair to say, 'as goes Vince Young so go the Titans this year'? Reggie Bush has the fortune of playing without a lot of talent on offense in New Orleans. Young doesn't have that luxury. It really is basically just him. But Tennessee may end up thinking in the 2nd half of this season, what pieces can be added around Young to turn the franchise back into the pehrenial winner it was from 1999 to 2003.
4. Houston Texans Gary Kubiak (2006)
2007 projected record: 6-10
Record (2006): 6-10
Record (2005): 2-14
Record (2004): 7-9
Keep in mind: What could have been had the Texans drafted RB sensation Reggie Bush in 2006?
Recap: Fortunately for Houston fans, a guy everyone likes to root for (QB Matt Schaub) has arrived. He can 1) help fans forget about the Bush pass over. And 2) give fans something good to think about while the losses pile up-- again.
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